April 4, 2001
More than 2,000 consumers paid $1,000 in advance for laser eye surgery from Lasik Vision Corp., a Canadian chain with 28 centers in the U.S. and Canada. Those patients are now looking at a long wait before they see their money again.
The chain collapsed under a massive debt load resulting from over-expansion and fierce price competition among laser eye centers. Another Canadian company, Icon Laser Eye Centers, has taken over the Lasik Vision centers and is trying to catch up on overdue refunds, a spokesman said.
The refunds aren't the chain's only problems though. Doctors and other staff members recently walked out of some clinics in a pay dispute. And Icon reportedly was unable to meet the payroll at some Lasik centers.
The sudden closures and walk-outs are a problem not only for those who paid in advance for surgery that wasn't performed. Patients who had the surgery need to receive follow-up care and may require additional treatment if complications develop.
Lasik and Icon aren't alone. Other high-volume clinics have also had their problems. In the Washington area, the Visual Freedom Center had four centers performing laser surgery in shopping malls. But it declared bankruptcy last month and closed two of the centers.
What should consumers do?
Advertising for laser eye surgery usually stresses price and convenience. But those are hardly the most important considerations when your vision is at stake.
The first thing to determine is whether corrective surgery is appropriate for you. This determination should be made by an ophthalmologist -- an M.D. who specializes in the eye. It's best to find an independent ophthalmologist, one who is not connected with a laser surgery center.
- Ask the ophthalmologist if you are a good candidate for vision correction, or whether you're better off sticking with glasses or contacts.
- Ask if laser surgery would really enable you to see without glasses. Many persons end up having to use glasses for reading even after their near-sightedness is corrected.
- Ask about the likelihood that you will need other types of eye surgery or treatment that might be affected by the laser procedure. Many middle-aged patients may already be developing cataracts, which may require more extensive surgery in a few years time. Cataract surgery can include a lens replacement that not only removes the cataract but also drastically improves vision.
If you decide to go ahead with laser surgery, don't think only of price. Interview several surgeons. Ask how many procedures the surgeon has performed, how long he or she has been in practice and ask about academic credentials.
Generally speaking, the top choice is a surgeon who has performed a high number of procedures, has been in practice in the same area for a lengthy period of time and is affiliated with a major teaching hospital.
Again, don't choose on price alone. A few hundred dollars is a small price to pay when your vision is at stake.
